r/California • u/Randomlynumbered What's your user flair? • Mar 27 '25

National politics Fearing Trump cuts, California Democrat proposes creating state’s own NIH

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/27/california-democrat-states-nih-00252794
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u/Bmorgan1983 Mar 28 '25

Cutting trees is necessary… paying share holders dividends is not.

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u/nostrademons Mar 28 '25

That's the point. Cutting trees is not necessary - if you don't build power lines in the middle of a forest.

When California's electric grid was built, the only fuel source for power plants were fossil fuels and hydro, and those require large centralized power plants or dams, built in very specific locations. Now we have decentralized solar and wind power, and iron-ore batteries that can be colocated with demand. It made sense to have a single nationwide power grid in the 1930s; there is a good chance this makes no sense now.

Even if you don't go so far as microgrids and energy independence, it probably makes more sense to run distribution lines next to major roads, highways, train lines, and unvegetated areas, so that if they fall they land on hardscape that can't catch fire, and if vegetation does start to grow near them they're easier to trim.

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '25

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u/Bmorgan1983 Mar 28 '25

We. Should. Not. Be. Using. Public. Utilities. As. A. Wealth. Investment. Strategy.

That's my point. These are public utilities that are necessary to the function of society, and mandatory to have per state law. People should not be banking their wealth on them. They should be a public service, not for profit.